Scotland’s Euro 2024 celebrations were put on hold as Alvaro Morata sent Spain on their way to a battling 2-0 win.
Having won their opening five qualifying matches in Group A, Steve Clarke’s side travelled to Seville knowing a point would be enough to seal their spot in Germany next summer.
Spain dominated the opening 45 minutes, but Scotland, who lost Andy Robertson to a shoulder injury, made it to the break on level terms and then thought they had taken the lead themselves in the second-half.
Scott McTominay’s brilliant free-kick from near the byline flew into the top corner, for what appeared to be his seventh goal of the campaign, but a VAR check that initially seemed to be for a foul eventually deemed Jack Hendry in the middle to be offside and interfering with play.
It proved to be a decisive moment. Jesus Navas, shortly after coming on, whipped a superb cross into the middle and Spanish captain Morata did the rest with a flicked header, before the hosts made sure of the result in the final few minutes.
Aaron Hickey slipped at the worst possible time, allowing Joselu to pounce and play the ball across the face of goal, where Ryan Porteous turned it into his own net as Oihan Sancet slid in with him.
There will be no panic in the Scottish camp though, with the Tartan Army officially progressing to Euro 2024 if Norway fail to beat Spain this Sunday. If not, Scotland will have two more chances to get the job done themselves next month.
